Our Structure
LOCAL POLITICAL COMMITTEE
The Local Political Committee serves as the highest elected body of Philly DSA. Between local conventions, the LPC implements the decisions of the general membership, coordinates among the various committees, acts as a representative of the organization, coordinates work with coalition partners, facilitates strategic discussions in the local area, and decides on matters that require immediate action. The Local Political Committee is elected annually at our local convention and comprises members with both administrative and executive responsibilities.
COMMITTEES
Our Local also consists of committees and working groups that help build our chapter. A committee is simply a body of members appointed or elected by our membership tasked with considering, investigating, or taking action on behalf of the membership.
If you'd like to be contacted by any of our committees or have any questions about getting involved, please email phillydsa@gmail.com or find an upcoming event near you.
LABOR
The Labor Committee's mission is to strengthen the labor movement in our region, to merge and strengthen the militant & socialist currents within the labor movement, to better root our chapter in our region’s multiracial working class, and to ensure that labor is central to the strategy and campaigns of Philly DSA. We seek to do this by providing training and support for the organizing of new unions, of rank-and-file organizers in already existing unions, and providing strike support as part of the class struggle.
HOUSING
The Housing Committee organizes tenants into tenant unions to fight displacement, win better living conditions, and build long-term power.
ELECTORAL
The Electoral Committee works on recruiting and electing socialist candidates for local office, and building a field program to support them. They also develop resources that explain how local and state governments work.
EDUCATION JUSTICE
The Education Justice Committee organizes parents and school staff to fight for material improvements in our public schools through school-level campaigns and systemic change.
WORKING GROUPS
ECOSOCIALISM
Our Ecosocialism Working Group is committed to fighting Climate Capital and building support in communities to better prepare them for the climate crisis. We participate in everything from mutual aid to electoral initiatives, as we firmly believe this crisis is an all-hands-on-deck issue that requires using any necessary means to fight back.
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY
The International Solidarity Working Group is our local body dedicated to international movements. We fight for Solidarity abroad and bring it to Philadelphia.
TRANS RIGHTS AND BODILY AUTONOMY
TRBA fights for trans liberation by hosting public-facing events that grow trans organizations, working with mutual aid groups, and collaborating with our socialists in office to advance policies for our LGBTQ+ community.
RED RABBITS
The Red Rabbits Working Group is our local direct action and safety contingent. They work with partner organizations to support protest safety and mutual aid.
COALITIONS
Currently, we are part of several coalitions, ranging from those with specific to more amorphous purposes, and permanent issue-based or temporary response-based structures. This list covers the former:
Alliance for a Just Philadelphia
One Pennsylvania: Action Group
Our City Our Schools
Philadelphia Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression
Philadelphia Palestine Coalition
Pennsylvania Cancel Student Lunch Debt Coalition
Rent Control Coalition
Save Chinatown Coalition
Tax the Rich Philadelphia
Transit for All Pennsylvania
HOW WE MAKE DECISIONS
As a democratic organization, we make decisions primarily through deliberation and voting by the assembly of all members. We utilize direct democracy for as many organizational decisions as possible. We believe that this democratic practice is an essential part of our socialist vision, and also that the process of formulating political initiatives, deliberation, debate, and voting strengthens us all as political actors and organizers.
These debates occur at general meetings where we vote on resolutions proposed by members. Resolutions outline what the organization should do, how it should be done, and what our perspective should be, allowing for democratic debate on concrete issues.
Any member or group of members interested in submitting a resolution is encouraged to contact the resolution team at phillydsa@gmail.com (subject line RESO) for help with drafting your ideas into an actionable resolution that is in accord with Robert’s Rules of Order. Find the timeline for submitting resolutions for general meetings here:
All resolutions to be debated at a General Meeting must be submitted to the LPC at least fourteen days before the meeting. The LPC will make sure that the resolution is in order with Roberts Rules, the Local’s Bylaws, and the Local’s Standing Rules.
Only resolutions with five or more co-sponsor signatures shall be considered at a General Meeting.
No fewer than eleven days before the meeting, the LPC shall inform resolution authors if their resolution is out of order. The authors shall have two days to resubmit their resolutions to bring them into order. The LPC will make sure that the resubmitted resolution is in order with Roberts Rules, the Local’s Bylaws, and the Local’s Standing Rules
A General Meeting packet will be published seven days before the meeting.
Amendments to resolutions should be submitted to the LPC at least four days before the meeting. The LPC will make sure that the resolution, as amended, is in order with Roberts Rules, the Philly DSA Bylaws, and the Philly DSA Standing Rules.
The full General Meeting packet, containing all business planned for the members' consideration, shall be published at least 48 hours before the meeting.
Enabling resolutions for campaigns must specify a (a) specific, winnable political goal related to the purposes of the Local (b) a plan to reach that goal, specifying the role of the Local (c) a termination date for the campaign (d) a proposed budget, and (e) a recruitment plan. Enabling resolutions should specify how the campaign will strengthen the Local and advance its purposes.
HOW WE WORK
As a volunteer-run and member-funded organization, we rely on the commitment and consistent work of our members. With several ongoing campaigns and initiatives, nearly 2,000 local members, and regular weekly activity, there is plenty of work that goes into our day-to-day operations.